Thermo-Electric Generator technology (TEG)

Found a couple threads here about TEGs, but they are from 2012 and 2015. HDR commented that he had a rocket stove (or some device) that used the technology.

Anyone use any of the newer ones? Amazon has a few that look interesting to me, because I like the simplicity of them. No moving parts and I just need pellets and water. Plus, no sun needed. So you get heat, a cooking surface and a little bit of power. What are the downsides (besides the price)?

Here is one TEG camp stove on Amazon.

And another

Outdoors only
Dirty pot bottoms
The electricity generated is running a fan to help keep the fire going so that means only a small trickle charge left for devices
Can not be used when there is a burn ban in effect
You have to constantly feed fuel into the stove while you are cooking
It does not stay clean and pretty looking and is hard to clean up

Do you need any more?
Just remember that companies do a hard push to get people to write reviews starting just days after they purchase. That really influences the actual truth as the buyers have not had a chance to use the products long term. Honeymoon reviews are the norm nowadays.

Do people like them? Sure
Is it going to be a daily cooking device that meets your needs and will it be convenient for you? The only way to know that is to buy one and try it.

Have I tried one? Yes, a friends.
Would I want it for my regular cooking? No.
Would I use it for a charging device? No, I am setup with a solar panel and battery for my charging needs. I do not cook with wood. It is too messy and not enough excellent days that are not too windy or too rainy. Summertimes seem to always come with burn bans.

maki2 said:

Outdoors only

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I wonder if they generate enough heat to warm you outside. Like how ppl get a little bit warmer sitting around a campfire.

maki2 said:

The electricity generated is running a fan to help keep the fire going so that means only a small trickle charge left for devices

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One of their selling points is "no moving parts". That is why NASA likes the technology. Think maybe just your friend's unit used a fan?

Thanks for replying.

NASA has some advantages we do not:

The Biolite generates 3W, so you will need to keep a fire going for quite a while to charge a phone. It takes my iPhone ~ 60 minutes to go from 50% to 80% with 2.5W USB.

I'd like to see someone make one of these that works with a campfire.

The fan in it is directed at the flame. The heat produced is directed upwards to the pot sitting on it. The concept of the stove is designed to use the least amount of fuel, needing only small diameter pieces for cooking. It might warm your hands if you hold them close to it but it is not going to warm you like a campfire.

Do a web search using the keywords “rocket stove”. The Biolite stove is in that class of engineered wood stove principals. You can learn all about how and why they work.

Just noticed BioLite sells a firepit. And I did find some for use indoors, but they are for more stationary dwellings. Like a yurt... or a building.

I like that they are eco-friendly and no need for fuel canisters.

What I always saw was burning a lot of fuel for very little power.

^^^Years ago I had a stationary bike hooked up to turn a generator that powered the TV so my kids had to petal to watch. They said the same thing! Lol!!!

Carla618 said:

One of their selling points is "no moving parts". That is why NASA likes the technology. Think maybe just your friend's unit used a fan?

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Both of the Amazon units you linked to do in fact use fans according to their descriptions.

AJ452 said:

Both of the Amazon units you linked to do in fact use fans according to their descriptions.

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Yeah, I saw that.

They power the fans themselves and have enough extra power to at least charge a cell phone. Think the bigger, orange unit can charge more.

NctryBen said:

What I always saw was burning a lot of fuel for very little power.

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I wouldn't buy one if you only got a tiny bit of power from them. You get that along with a way to cook food, charge your phone without the sun and play with fire. Not good for areas that have forest fires, but I'm in Illinois.

bullfrog said:

^^^Years ago I had a stationary bike hooked up to turn a generator that powered the TV so my kids had to petal to watch. They said the same thing! Lol!!!

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Airport in Amsterdam provides bikes so ppl can charge their phones.

https://www.greenoptimistic.com/pedal-power-airport-schiphol/

Carla618 said:

You get that along with a way to cook food, charge your phone without the sun and play with fire.

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There's a Swedish company that integrated a TEG into an Ardic parking heater for that reason. If done right, the waste heat from the TEG can go back into the heating loop. But it's still expensive per watt.

For what it's worth, NASA often uses thermo-photovoltaic cells rather than TEGs. (They're similar to solar cells, but powered by infrared light from a very hot piece of plutonim-238 instead of by sunlight.)

A standard silicon solar cell would probably generate some current if you put it close to a fire, but I'm not sure how much. And you'd need cool it.

Another in an endless line of over priced “off grid “ gadgets that all began in the ‘70’s with this……..



jonny boi thinkin KISS

INTJohn said:

Another in an endless line of over priced “off grid “ gadgets that all began in the ‘70’s with this……..



jonny boi thinkin KISS

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Haha, tried one on a solo backcountry canoe trip. Think rapala with all three hooks in my bare back. Fun times. Haha!

^^^Useful hint, take off the front set of hooks that way you have something to hold on to! Loop a piece of line around the hook at the bottom of the bend and press down on the back side of the eye of the hook while slightly putting pressure toward the attachment point or line to release the barb, jerk the looped line. If in soft skin after a few tries push it through, cut off the barb then remove it. Clean the wound put a bandage on it and get back to fishing. Also wear a thick hoodie or a very wide brimmed hat. It’s a lot more dangerous with two people if they don’t know what they are doing! Don’t ask me how I know! Lol!!!

INTJohn said:

Another in an endless line of over priced “off grid “ gadgets that all began in the ‘70’s with this……..



jonny boi thinkin KISS

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Ha, ha. That is funny=/

It costs the same as many rocket stoves, so not terribly overpriced.

I'm trying to avoid lithium... which isn't so funny. (Because climate change, child labor and environmental destruction. )

Carry on. I am used to my generation ignoring disasters, death and destruction.

NctryBen said:

Haha, tried one on a solo backcountry canoe trip. Think rapala with all three hooks in my bare back. Fun times. Haha!

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Dude ur killlin me . That’s what a Rapala does to you if u don’t put it on a “reel” fishun pole.

bullfrog said:

^^^Useful hint, take off the front set of hooks that way you have something to hold on to! Loop a piece of line around the hook at the bottom of the bend and press down on the back side of the eye of the hook while slightly putting pressure toward the attachment point or line to release the barb, jerk the looped line. If in soft skin after a few tries push it through, cut off the barb then remove it. Clean the wound put a bandage on it and get back to fishing. Also wear a thick hoodie or a very wide brimmed hat. It’s a lot more dangerous with two people if they don’t know what they are doing! Don’t ask me how I know! Lol!!!

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Or do ur fishin aisle 9 at Walmart……
Sayin

Poor Kentucky boy just hand lines! Lol!!!